Planetary gearing for a circular piston machine



Oct. 26, 1965 E. HEJJ ETAL 3,213,714

PLANETARY GEARING FOR A CIRCULAR PISTON MACHINE Filed March 14, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 In venfors HINE Oct. 26, 1965 In venfars:

Oct. 26, 1965 E- HEJJ ETAL 3,213,714

PLANETARY GEARING FOR A CIRCULAR PISTON MACHINE Filed March 14, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.3

Inven/ora Erwin .'ero ol 7 52 cr- F-r/a FeJ-g E. HEJJ ETAL Oct. 26, 1965 HINE lhvenfars United States Patent 3,213,714 PLANETARY GEARING FOR A CIRCULAR PISTON MACHINE Erwin Hejj, Essen-Borbeek, Eberhard Fezer, Essen- Bredeney, and Fritz Frese, Bochum, Germany, assignors to Beteiligungsund Patentverwaltungsgesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Essen, Germany Filed Mar. 14, 1%3, Ser. No. 265,181 Claims priority, application Germany Mar. 24, 1962, R 66,513 6 Claims. (Cl. 74-804) The present invention relates to circular piston machine with a rotor guided in a housing an on a rotatable eccentric, said rotor rotating at a fixed speed ratio with regard to the eccentric which speed ratio is determined by he employment of a one or multi-stage transmission.

With heretofore known circular piston machines of the type involved, the individual transmission members are so arranged that the driving forces for the transmission ratio between rotor and eccentric act unilaterally with regard to that central plane through the rotor or eccentric which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation thereof. Such an arrangement brings about the danger that rotor and eccentric tilt relative to each other.

For the sake of completeness, it may be mentioned that circular piston machines with a one stage transmission have been suggested in which a gear ring is connected along the central plane of the rotor which gear ring rolls on a pinion fixedly connected to the housing and located in the central plane of said rotor but journalled outside the central plane of said eccentric. Such an arrangement, however, cannot overcome the above mentioned drawback of heretofore known circular piston machines at least not to the desired extent.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a circular piston machine which will overcome the above mentioned drawback.

It is another object of this invention to provide a circular piston machine in which the driving forces determining the speed ratio between rotor and eccentric will act symmetrically with regard to that central plane through the rotor or eccentric which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a section through a circular piston machine according to the present invention with a planetary gear carrier journalled on the eccentric shaft, said section being taken along the axis of rotation of the rotor.

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line II--II of FIG 1.

FIG. 3 shows a modified circular piston machine according to the invention in a section taken along the line of the axis of rotation of the rotor which latter has a gear ring journalled therein.

FIG. 4 is section along the line IV--IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a section along the line VV of FIGS. 1 and 3.

According to the present invention, the rotor has rotatably journalled therein at least one shaft arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotor and extending over the length of the eccentric. Connected to the ends of said shaft or shafts are pinions respectively meshing with teeth on the eccentric to thereby rotate said shaft or shafts about the axis or axes thereof. The said shaft or shafts carrying said pinions is or are through the intervention of additional gear means drivingly connected 3,213,714 Patented Oct. 26, 1965 to the shaft of the eccentric to bring about the desired speed ratio between the shaft of the eccentric and said rotor.

In order to distribute the power effect as uniformly as possible over the circumference of the rotor, according to a further development of the present invention, when employing a plurality of pinions carrying shafts, the latter are equi-distantly spaced from the axis of rotation of the rotor and are preferably equi-distantly spaced from each other. The other portion of the transmission operatively connected to the shaft of the eccentric is so designed that the shaft or shafts journalled in the rotor has or have each connected thereto a transmission gear which meshes with a gear ring .rotatably journalled on the eccentric and has or have a diameter different from the diameter of the gear on the eccentric.

In this instance, the gear ring may mesh with the inner teeth of a planetary gear carrier rotatably journalled on the shaft of the eccentric. The arrangement is such that the planetary gear wheel or gear wheels of the planetary gear transmission comprising said planetary gear carrier on one hand meshes or mesh with teeth fixedly connected to the housing and on the other hand with teeth fixed to the shaft of the eccentric.

According to a modified circular piston machine according to the invention, the pinion, through the intervention of a reversing gear likewise journalled in the rotor drives the inner teeth of a gear ring which is rotatably journalled in the rotor and concentric with regard to the eccentric. With the said gear ring meshes a pinion journalled on a shaft carried by the eccentric and rolling on outer teeth connected to the housing.

According to the present invention, it is also possible to provide the shafts journalled in the rotor with a drive for additional auxiliary devices such as an oil pump which may be arranged in the rotor.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the rotor 2 of the circular piston machine rotates in a two-arched housing 1 and is being guided in addition to other parts by the eccentric 3 the axis 4 of which coincides with the central axis of the rotor 2. The axis of the eccentric shaft 5 coincides with the central axis of the housing 1. Fixed in housing 1 concentric with shaft 5 is a ring gear 14 and meshing with ring gear 14 are planet gears 13 rotatable on shafts fixed by carrier 12 that is rotatable on shaft 5. Carrier 12 comprises an internal gear 11 that meshes with gear ring 10 rotatable on eccentric 3 on axis 4 thereof. Rotatable gear 10 meshes with planet pinions 9 carried by shafts 6 that extend through rotor 2. Pinions 9 are the larger portions of compound pinions that also include smaller pinions 7 meshing with gears S fixed to eccentric 3 concentric with axis 4 thereof. In the particular embodiment shown, the eccentric shaft 5 rotates three times as fast as rotor 2 and in the same direction.

This speed ratio is conveyed through a transmission interposed between the rotor 2 and the eccentric 3 through the intervention of gears 14 (FIG. 1) and 21 (FIG. 3) respectively fixedly connected to the housing. The first stage of the transmission is formed by three shafts 6 which extend parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor 2 and are journalled in the rotor equi-distantly from the axis of said rotor and are spaced equi-distantly from each other. Each end of each of the shafts 6 has symmetrically with regard to the central axis of the machine connected thereto a gear 7 meshing with teeth 8 connected to the eccentric 3. One of the shafts 6 drives an auxiliary device 22 arranged in rotor 2.

According to the circular piston machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pinion 7 has rigidly connected thereto a pinion 9 of a different diameter. When rotor 2 rotates relative to the eccentric 3, gear 7 rolls on the teeth 8, and pinion 9 due to its different diameter rotates the gear ring 10 which is rotatably journalled on the eccentric 3. Gear ring 10 rotating on eccentric 3 and rotating together with the latter about the axis of the eccentric shaft 5 is in continuous mesh with the inner teeth 11 of a planet gear carrier 12 journalled on eccentric shaft 5. The planet gears 13 on one hand roll on the housing teeth 14 and on the other hand mesh with the teeth 15 on the eccentric shaft 5.

According to the circular piston machine illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the housing 1 has external gear means 21 adjacent the shaft 5 and concentric therewith. These external gear means mesh with gears 19 mounted on shafts 20 that are carried by eccentric 3. Gears 19 also mesh with internal ring gears 18 rotatable in rotor 2 concentrically with axis 4 of eccentric 3. Ring screw 18, in turn, mesh with reversing gears 17 mounted on shafts 16 carried in rotor 2 and distributed in a path concentric with axis 4 of eccentric 3. Reversing gears 17 mesh with the respective adjacent gears 7 which, in turn, mesh with gears 8 fixed to the eccentric 3 concentrically with axis 4 thereof. By this gear arrangement a rotary movement of eccentric 3 is effected in the same direction as is the case with the rotor 2.

In order to obtain the required speed ratio between the rotor 2 and the eccentric 3, with the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS. 3 and 4, the dimensions of the teeth are, of course, to be selected correspondingly.

FIG. 5 shows an oil pump which represents an auxiliary device 22 arranged in rotor 2 and driven by one of the shafts 6. The oil pump is designed as gear pump and serves for creating the necessary pressure to press the sealing slide 23 against the inner wall of housing 1.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular constructions shown in the drawings but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a circular piston machine having a housing, a rotatable eccentric with a shaft journalled in said housing, and a rotor journalled on said eccentric: shaft means rotatably supported by said rotor and extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said eccentric, said eccentric being provided with first circumferential teeth and second circumferential teeth spaced from said first circumferential teeth in axial direction of said eccentric, rotatable pinion means fixed on said shaft means and in continuous mesh with said first and second circumferential teeth respectively, two gear means provided on the shaft of said eccentric and spaced from each other in axial direction of said last mentioned shaft, and two gear train means respectively drivingly interconnecting said gear means and the respective adjacent rotatable pinion means.

2. A circular piston machine according to claim 1, in which said shaft means comprises a plurality of rotatable shafts evenly spaced from the axis of rotation of said rotor and having said rotatable pinion means fixed on said shafts arranged on opposite sides of and symmetrically to that plane of symmetry of said rotor which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation thereof.

3. In a circular piston machine having a housing, a rotatable eccentric with a shaft journalled in said housing, and a rotor journalled on said eccentric: shaft means rotatably supported by said rotor and extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said eccentric, said eccentric being provided with first circumferential teeth and second circumferential teeth spaced from said first circumferential teeth in axial direction of said eccentric, a plurality of first rotatable pinion means fixed on said shaft means and in continuous mesh with said first and second circumferential teeth respectively, a plurality of second rotatable pinion means respectively drivingly connected to said first rotatable pinion means, two gear ring means respectively rotatable relative to and supported by said eccentric and respectively meshing with said second pinion means, the pitch diameter of said two gear ring means being different from the pitch diameter of said first and second circumferential teeth, two gear means provided on the shaft of said eccentric and spaced from each other in axial direction of said last mentioned shaft, and two gear train means respectively drivingly interconnecting said gear means and the respective adjacent gear ring means.

4. In a circular piston machine having a housing, a rotatable eccentric with a shaft journalled in said housing, and a rotor journalled on said eccentric: shaft means r0- tatably supported by said rotor and extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said eccentric; said eccentric being provided with first circumferential teeth and second circumferential teeth spaced from said first circumferential teeth in axial direction of said eccentric; a plurality of first rotatable pinion means fixed on said shaft means and in continuous mesh with said first and second circumferential teeth respectively; a plurality of second rotatable pinion means respectively drivingly connected to said first rotatable pinion means; two gear ring means respectively rotatable relative to and supported by said eccentric and respectively meshing with said second pinion means; the pitch diameter of said two gear ring means being different from the pitch diameter of said first and second circumferential teeth; two gear means provided on the shaft of said eccentric and spaced from each other in axial direction of said last mentioned shaft; and a pair of planetary gear means each including a gear ring fixedly connected to the housing, a planetary gear carrier drivingly connected to the respective adjacent gear ring means on said eccentric, and planet gear means carried by said planetary gear carrier and meshing with both the respective adjacent gear ring fixedly connected to the housing and the respective adjacent gear means on the shaft of said eccentric.

5. In a circular piston machine having a housing, a rotatable eccentric with a shaft journalled in said housing, and a rotor journalled on said eccentric: shaft means rotatably supported by said rotor and extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said eccentric, said eccentric being provided with first circumferential teeth and second circumferential teeth spaced from said first circumferential teeth in axial direction of said eccentric, rotatable pinion means fixed on said shaft means and in continuous mesh with said first and second circumferential teeth respectively, said shaft means being connected to said rotatable pinion means for rotation thereof, auxiliary means drivingly connected to at least one of said shaft means and located within said rotor so as to be driven by said shaft means, two gear means provided on the shaft of said eccentric and spaced from each other in axial direction of said last mentioned shaft, and two gear train means respectivley drivingly interconnecting said gear means and the respective adjacent rotatable pinion means.

6. In a circular piston machine having a housing, a rotatable eccentric with a shaft journalled in said housing, and a rotor journalled on said eccentric: shaft means rotatably supported by said rotor and extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said eccentric, said eccentric being provided with first circumferential teeth and with second circumferential teeth spaced from said first circumferential teeth in axial direction of said eccentric, first rotatable pinion means fixed on said shaft means and in continuous mesh with said first and second circumferential teeth respectively, second rotatable pinion means respectively meshing with said first rotatable pinion means and journalled within said rotor, two rotatable gear rings respectively arranged concentrically with regard to said eccentric and rotatable in said rotor and meshing with the respective adjacent second pinion means, two stationary gear rings fixedly connected to said housing and respectively arranged adjacent but in spaced relationship to said rotatable gear rings, and tWo additional pinion means rotatably supported by said eccentric on those sides of said first and second circumferential teeth which face away from each other and meshing with both the respective adjacent rotatable gear ring and the respective adjacent stationary gear ring.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Planche 123-8 Bancroft 74-804 X Froede 123-8 Hoschele 1238 Paschke et a1. 1238 10 DON A. WAITE, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A CIRCULAR PISTON MACHINE HAVING A HOUSING, A ROTATABLE ECCENTRIC WITH A SHAFT JOURNALLED IN SAID HOUSING, AND A ROTOR JOURNALED ON SAID ECCENTRIC: SHAFT MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID ROTOR AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID ECCENTRIC, SAID ECCENTRIC BEING PROVIDED WIHT FIRST CIRCUMFERENTIAL TEETH AND SECOND CIRCUMFERENTIAL TEETH SPACED FROM SAID FIRST CIRCUMFERENTIAL TEETH IN AXIAL DIRECTION OF SAID ECCENTRIC, ROTATABLE PINION MEANS FIXED ON SAID SHAFT MEANS AND IN CONTINUOUS MESH WITH SAID FIRST AND SECOND CIRCUMFERNETIAL TEETH RESPECTIVELY, TWO GEAR MEANS PROVIDED ON THE SHAFT OF SAID ECCENTRIC AND SPACED FROM EACH OTHER IN AXIAL DIRECTION OF SAID LAST MENTIONED SHAFT, AND TWO GEAR TRAIN MEANS RESPECTIVELY DRIVINGLY INTERCONNECTING SAID GEAR MEANS AND THE RESPECTIVE ADJACENT ROTATABLE PINION MEANS. 